NSA Admitted Desire to Create a Database of Every Call Made

[CuttingEdge100]

URL: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm

"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.

Does this bother anybody in the slightest?

When you consider they have elaborate data-mining programs such as AQUAINT, which may already be nearing operational use as the NSA's "Perfect Citizen" program, which officially is designed to monitor US Networks, and Critical Infrastructure, but many worry that it will be used for performing massive automatic datamining on US Citizens and Corporations, with an internal memo by Raytheon -- the contractor creating it, referring to it as "Big Brother" (URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/08/perfect_citizen/ ), this is a very major concern.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

no, its the NSA. I'd be shocked if they DIDN"T want a record of every call.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Wow, that's a fairly old article. (No offense or anything, I just didn't expect it.)

I've known about this for some time. Does it bother me? Sure, it does. I've spoken out against it in public forums several times.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The article (old as it is) says that the actual calls themselves aren't being recorded. Only the data about the call - time, day, who you call, etc. Now that in itself is a privacy intrusion, but somewhat less than what would happen if they could actually listen in. They don't do that, do they?

 

[JustAFriend]

Hate to tell 'ya but the entire telephone system is and has been computerized.

The phone company ALREADY HAS everything recorded, including your location.

Get over it, 'cause it's already happened years ago....

 

[CuttingEdge100]

Jeff O'Connor,

Does it bother me? Sure, it does.

Glad to hear people out there realize how serious a problem this is

I've spoken out against it in public forums several times.

Very good to hear, few people have either the guts or the willpower to do it these days


Mr. Laser Beam,

The article (old as it is) says that the actual calls themselves aren't being recorded. Only the data about the call - time, day, who you call, etc. Now that in itself is a privacy intrusion, but somewhat less than what would happen if they could actually listen in. They don't do that, do they?

I'm afraid to say that they do have algorithms to autonomously sift through the contents of each message, including what is said. They look for key words in e-mails and phone-calls, and they can look for specific voice-patterns as well in phone-calls.

 

[Jetfire]

Stuff like this makes me want to become Amish.

 

[ProwlAlpha]

Well, If you been using the computers, pay bills, use any type of telephone, traveled on an airplane, bought a large purchase, went to school, have parents, and simply exist in the modern world, you have been documented. This article is only sayings that we already know.

 

[BillJ]

Does it bother me? Not in the slightest.

It just allows the Feds to confirm how pathetic my life really is. Wake up... go to work... come home... go to bed.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Agreed. I really am having a hard time giving a crap about this...I rarely get calls of any kind, and when I do, it's usually my dad asking "Hey, want to have lunch?" The Feds would get mighty bored monitoring me.